Again.
Fuck, I’m nowhere near ready to integrate myself back into this life.
It damn near destroyed me, my relationship with my brothers…everything.
“Let’s go.”
My gaze lingers on Sevryn, and he stares back just as fiercely. I have no clue what we’re going to do with him. The last thing we need is a traitor in our business.
I stomp toward the largest arch in the center that will lead us back out the way we came. This maze is unfortunately branded on my brain. I know every nook and turn.
Instead of continuing straight, which would take us out and onto the lifeless, dangerous path that leads into the heart of the lower level, we cut to the right and enter a darkened hallway.
“Damn it,” Thayla groans.
“Are you okay?” Kyzen asks.
“No. Not at all. V told me we can’t starshoot here, not like I can anyways, and the last thing I want to do is walk my ass through Hellveilious.”
“Who’s V?” Sevryn asks and we all ignore him.
“We’re not starshooting or walking back out through Hellveilious,” I say, leading them to the left and into an even smaller grove. “There’s another exit this way. It’ll put us outside of Hellveilious.”
“Care to give us a little more than that?”
I scowl over my shoulder at Kyzen. He’s still hand in hand with Thayla and that shit burns through me. I force the feeling down, but between my soul and the way my lips tingle with the slightest thought of her mouth on mine, it makes it nearly impossible.
“This exit has been here since the first time I ever came here. It’s one way and it was only supposed to be used if I needed to get out fast. As long as part of me is through, you all can pass.”
I’ll never forget the Goddess of Illusion’s sweet, motherly tone as she talked me through embedding my power into her creation. It was the first time I’d ever been talked to like that. Rather than comforting me, it made me wary of her. Which, as I know now, was a good instinct to have.
As one of the first and most powerful of the Domain Gods to come about, she’ll never pick a side between the Beginning Gods. She seems, even to this day, to love them all equally.
It’s great for the Godsdawn that she didn’t leave it high and dry and side with my father, but it feels like a slap in the face that she still does things for him as well.
The veiled shimmering brick comes into view for me, and I exhale as I stare at it. It’s been a while since I’ve passed through it.
I don’t bother explaining anything else to anyone as they all gather around me. My palm connects with the wall, and the illusion fades away.
“You all first. Yemi, come up here and go with Thayla and Kyzen.”
Her mouth parts and her eyes whip to Thayla. “She’s fine. She can go through with Sevryn.”
Kyzen goes to argue but stops when she shakes her head. I make myself hold her gaze as she stares into my eyes. She’s searching for so much more than I can give her right now.
But I will give it to her. Eventually.
I thought breathing would be easier once she stepped through the opening to the other side, but, in fact, it becomes harder. My soul thrashes around as though there’s too much distance between the piece of her that’s mine and the piece still inside of her.
“Hurry the fuck up,” I grunt at Amick and Riven.
Amick tilts his head to the side, observing my shitty tone closely, while Riven walks through without a word or backward glance.
As Yemi and Sevryn step up, though, I slam my hand to his chest, and he grips my wrist.
“Don’t waste your breath with threats, Creed.”
“I don’t know what the fuck is going on here”—I glance down at Yemi, then back up at him—“but she means a lot to my Binder, therefore she means a lot to us. Take that however you need and want.”
